VietNamNet Bridge – Several forest fires have been reported in the southernmost Ca Mau province and Ho Chi Minh City on February 26, which wreaked havoc for a large area of forests in the two localities.

An estimated 50 hectares of cajuput forest in Ca Mau province’s U Minh district was burned down after a four-hour fire.

Ca Mau Forest Management Department in coordination with the local authority mobilised over 300 locals and five high power water pumps to bring the blaze under control at 5 pm. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to the Director of the department Le Van Hai, the forest area was once destroyed by a fire in 2008.

About 20,000ha of cajuput forest in the locality is at a high risk of fire, due to prolonged hot and dry weather.

At 9 am the same day, a huge blaze occurred in the 30-hectare protective forest in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City.

The forest management board along with the firefighters mobilised four fire trucks to put out the fire after seven hours of battling.

The blaze did not cause human losses, but swathes of cajuput forest were devastated.

The fire might have been caused by some local residents who burned rubbish in the forest.

Source: Vietnam Plus